Posted by: Mike (reyg121@yahoo.com) on Wed Dec 19 23:47:00 2007

> Hi All
>
> Over next the few weeks, I will post video clips that address many of the topics of our latest discussions. The first clip will address the assumption that pitching and batting mechanics are so similar that the principles that apply to one are also true for the other. Below are exerpts from our discussion and a video clip that illustrates our differences.
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> (George)
> hitting is just like throwing.. the mechanics are pretty much the same. when you throw a pitch, you use the rubber to push off your power or back leg...imagine pitchers who just stood there with no forward stride & just slung the ball up there... shouldn't you do the same thing when you hit?.. yes! bend your knee & push off your back toe... DO NOT STAND FLATFOOTED! REMEMBER MASS X SPEED = ENERGY. so just like throwing a pitch, push off your back leg & get your body mass going forward.. the faster, the greater the energy you are generating toward the ball..to stand stock still with no forward motion means you are generating NO energy whatsoever!!! HELLO?!?!?!
> ##
>
> (Jack Mankin)
> This illustrates just one of the problems of equating the mechanics of pitching a ball to that of swinging a bat. To say that since the development of forward momentum is required in pitching, it must also be true for hitting is misleading. Keep in mind that in hitting, forward movement of the body ceases at foot-plant and the batter rotates about a stationary axis. Whereas, in pitching, the upper-body continues to move forward after foot-plant and the pitcher rotates about a forward tilting axis.
>
> Many of the posts I have read appear to claim that the mechanics of pitching and hitting are basically the same and therefore what is true for one is also true for the other. I have always had trouble with comparing principles found in pitching a ball to the mechanics of the baseball swing. It seems to me that the dynamics of throwing a 5-ounce baseball with one hand would demand very different body and limb trajectories than those required to swing a 33-ounce bat with two hands.
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> Look at the clip and draw your own conclusions.
>
> <a href="http://www.batspeed.com/media/Momentum_Pitching-v-Hitting.wmv">Pitching vs hitting mechanics</a --
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>
> Jack Mankin

Hey Jack,
George I'd likle to talk about how these hitters are not making adjustments and honestly feels if these pro hitters spent time with him they would probably hit 600 against the best pitching in the world. I get criticized when I say you are what you are. It's true especially these hitters that are 24 25 years old. George probably never heard of muscle memory. Two weeks even a year in a cage would not change someones swing. Thousands and thousands of swings later you can't change it very much. You could in a cage for a little bit but in a game situation facing a pitcher that will get it to the plate than lees of a second you will do what you always do. So hitters in the bigs realize that and try to lay off pitches they can't hit. Pitchers miss all the time and big league hitters make them pay for it. And for the last time George stances do not matter. You could even step in the bucket and be successful. As far as I know Nomar Garciaparra said it years ago we are all all stars playing in this league. They are the 1 percent of the population playing baseball. Bagwell squat ed and had a huge stance and still was one of the best hitters of my time. How could you criticize guys like him. I hope George's young students parents realize he is an idiot before they are who they are.